Binding components for a gliding board

ABSTRACT

A snowboard binding and hold-down device that may flex or move with the snowboard when ridden to minimize any impact on flex characteristics. The snowboard binding may be compatible with a variety of snowboard binding mount arrangements.

BACKGROUND

The feel of a snowboard, as perceived by a rider, may be determined atleast in part by how the snowboard flexes. Various riding styles andterrain conditions may also recommend a particular type of board flex.With this in mind, a snowboard may be designed with a particular flexpattern.

Snowboard bindings secure a rider to the snowboard, and typically are inthe form of a rigid baseplate that receives the rider's boot and a rigidhold-down disk that is received in, and attaches, the baseplate to thesnowboard (known as a “tray” style binding). The rigid hold-down disc isprovided with openings or slots that are compatible with a pattern ofthreaded inserts (e.g., “4×4” or 3D (TRADEMARK)) arranged on thesnowboard. Fasteners are passed through the hold down disc and screwedinto the inserts, attaching the baseplate to the board. The rigidity ofboth the baseplate and the hold-down disc may create a dead spot thatresists flexing of the snowboard underneath and/or adjacent the binding.

In contrast to tray style bindings, ‘baseless’ bindings do not include afloor or base so that a rider's boot rests directly on the snowboard.Baseless bindings are believed to allow greater board flex as comparedto tray style bindings. An example of a baseless binding is described inUS Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0030000 A1, assigned to TheBurton Corporation, which is the assignee of the present application. Inthat particular baseless binding, fastener mounts are located externalof the binding sidewalls (that is, not in the foot-receiving area of thebinding), and the binding is configured for mounting to a channel stylebinding interface in the snowboard. The baseless binding described inthe published patent application is not compatible with a snowboardconfigured with a 4×4 or 3D (TRADEMARK) insert pattern.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the invention relate to a binding that when mounted to agliding board, facilitates bending of the board at and/or near thebinding location. According to certain embodiments, a binding has medialand lateral base regions that move in concert with outwardly bowed(e.g., convex) bending of the gliding board. One or both of the base anda hold-down device used to secure the base to the gliding board, may bearranged to allow first and second portions of the base of the bindingto pivot or otherwise move towards one another.

According to one aspect, a hold-down device is provided for mounting abinding base to a gliding board that includes a first rigid hold-downportion that is arranged to mount to a complimentary hold-down portionreceiving area of a binding base, and a second rigid hold-down portionthat is arranged to mount to a complimentary hold-down portion receivingarea of a binding base. A flexible connection is provided between thefirst rigid hold-down portion and the second rigid hold-down portion,such that the first rigid hold-down portion and the second rigidhold-down portion are moveable relative to one another in response tobending forces of a gliding board when each of the first and secondrigid hold-down portions mount a binding base to a gliding board.

According to another aspect, a hold-down device is provided for mountinga binding base to a gliding board that includes a first rigid hold-downportion and a second rigid hold-down portion that are each arranged tomount to a complimentary hold-down portion receiving area of a bindingbase. The first rigid hold-down portion includes a central portion and abinding base engagement feature for resisting binding distortion thatfaces towards the central portion, and the second rigid al hold-downportion includes a central portion and a binding base engagement featurefor resisting binding distortion that faces towards the central portion.

According to another aspect a hold-down device is provided for mountinga binding base to a gliding board that includes first and second rigidhold-down portions that are arranged to mount to a complimentaryhold-down portion receiving area of a binding base at a plurality ofdifferent angular positions relative to the binding base. The hold-downdevice is provided with at least one rotational stop that is cooperablewith a rotational stop of a binding base to limit an angular position ofthe binding base relative to the hold-down device.

According to another aspect, a hold-down device is provided for mountinga binding base to a gliding board that includes a rigid medial hold-downportion that is arranged to mount to an inner medial region of a bindingbase and that includes at least one opening or slot arranged to receivea fastener to mount the rigid medial hold-down portion to a glidingboard, and a rigid lateral hold-down portion that is arranged to mountto an inner lateral region of a binding base and that includes at leastone opening or slot arranged to receive a fastener to mount the rigidlateral hold-down portion to a gliding board. A plurality of teethextend along an arc on each of the rigid medial hold-down portion andthe rigid lateral hold-down portion that are engageable to correspondingteeth of an inner medial region and an inner lateral region,respectively, of a binding base in one of a plurality of differentangular positions. A hinge connects the rigid medial hold-down portionand the rigid lateral hold-down portion such that, when the hold-downdevice has mounted a binding base to a gliding board, the rigid medialhold-down portion and the rigid lateral hold-down portion are moveablerelative to one another in response to bending forces of the glidingboard.

According to another aspect, a binding base for a gliding board isprovided including a medial region having a medial side wall and amedial base portion, and a lateral region having a lateral side wall anda lateral base portion. Each of the medial base portion and the lateralbase portion are positioned between the medial side wall and the lateralside wall and together define a hold-down device mounting area whereinthe lateral base portion and the medial base portion are interrupted soas to be separate and spaced from each other. The medial and lateralbase portions each include a plurality of teeth engageable tocomplementary teeth on a hold-down device so that the binding base ismountable to a hold-down device in one of a plurality of differentangular positions relative to the hold-down device. A hold-down deviceengagement feature, for resisting distortion of the binding base, islocated on the medial base portion and faces toward the medial sidewall, and a hold-down device engagement feature, for resistingdistortion of the binding base, is located on the lateral base portionand faces toward the lateral side wall.

According to another aspect, a binding base for a gliding board isprovided, including a medial region having a medial side wall and amedial base portion, and a lateral region having a lateral side wall anda lateral base portion. Each of the medial base portion and the lateralbase portion are positioned between the medial side wall and the lateralside wall and together define a hold-down device mounting area whereinthe lateral base portion and the medial base portion are interrupted soas to be separate and spaced from each other. The medial and lateralbase portions each include a plurality of teeth engageable tocomplementary teeth on a hold-down device so that the binding base ismountable to a hold-down device in one of a plurality of differentangular positions relative to the hold-down device. The binding baseincludes at least one rotational stop to engage a correspondingrotational stop of a hold-down device to limit the angular position ofthe binding base relative to the hold-down device.

In a still further aspect, a binding for a gliding board is providedincluding a binding base having a medial sidewall and a lateralsidewall, and a medial base portion and a lateral base portion. Each ofthe medial base portion and the lateral base portion are positionedbetween the medial side wall and the lateral side wall and togetherdefine a hold-down device mounting area wherein the lateral base portionand the medial base portion are interrupted so as to be separate andspaced from each other. A hold-down device is arranged for receipt inthe hold-down device receiving area for mounting the binding base to agliding board. The hold-down device includes a medial portion and alateral portion, and a flexible connection between the medial portionand the lateral portion. The medial and lateral base portions eachinclude a plurality of teeth engageable to complementary teeth on themedial and lateral portions of the hold-down device in a plurality ofangular positions of the binding base relative to the hold-down device.The medial base portion and the lateral base portion are moveablerelative to one another, when the hold-device mounts the binding base toa gliding board, in response to bending forces of the gliding board.

These and other aspects of the invention will be appreciated from thefollowing description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In thedrawings, each identical or nearly identical component that isillustrated in various figures may be represented by a like numeral. Forpurposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in everydrawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a binding, according to certainembodiments, that shows medial and lateral base regions of a bindingmoving about a heel-toe axis.

FIG. 2 a is a schematic view of an unwanted binding distortion known as‘paralellogramming’.

FIG. 2 b is a schematic view of an unwanted binding distortion referredto as ‘bowing’.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a binding, according to one embodiment,mounted to a snowboard that has a channel-type binding interface

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the binding of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the binding of FIGS. 3 and4, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 a is a perspective top view of the hold-down device of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 b is a perspective bottom view of the hold-down device of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a hold-down device, according to oneembodiment, configured for use with a snowboard having a 4×4 insertpattern.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a hold-down device, according to oneembodiment, configured for use with a snowboard having a 3D (TRADEMARK)insert pattern.

FIG. 9 a is perspective view of a hold-down device, according to oneembodiment, configured for use with a snowboard having a 4×4 insertpattern.

FIG. 9 b is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 a,taken along lines 9 b-9 b of FIG. 9 a.

FIG. 10 a is a perspective view of a hold-down device, according to oneembodiment, configured for use with a snowboard having a channel-typebinding interface.

FIG. 10 b is a perspective view of the hold-down device shown in FIG. 10a, with the clamping plate removed.

FIG. 11 a is a perspective view of the binding of FIG. 1 including afootbed, a highback, and binding straps.

FIG. 12 b is a perspective view of the binding of FIG. 11 a, showing thefootbed positioned to provide access to a hold-down device (highback andbinding straps not shown).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present invention relate to a binding, a baseplate for abinding, and a hold down disc for a binding, (each of the preceding mayindividually and collectively be referred to herein as “bindingcomponents”) to be mounted to a gliding board and that are constructedand arranged to facilitate bending of a gliding board relative to thelocation of the binding components. The binding, baseplate for abinding, and hold down disc for a binding may, additionally oralternatively, be arranged to resist unwanted distortion when a glidingboard including the binding components is ridden.

In one illustrative embodiment, a rigid binding includes afoot-receiving area that is positioned between medial and lateralsidewalls. The foot-receiving area may be in the form of a rigid base,and may further include a rigid hold-down device received in an aperturein the rigid base for mounting the base to the gliding board. Thebinding base may be characterized by medial and lateral base regionsthat, when the binding has been secured via the hold-down device to thegliding board, are moveable (e.g., pivotable) relative to one another inresponse to flexing forces of the gliding board. The moveablearrangement of the medial and/or lateral regions mitigates resistance ofthe rigid binding to the bending of the gliding board. Either or both ofthe hold-down device and/or the base may be configured to facilitatemovement of the medial and lateral base regions in response to outwardcurving of the board, or other forces acting on the gliding board.

According to some aspects, a binding for a gliding board includes a basehaving medial and lateral regions that are spaced from one another alongan intermediate portion of the binding to define a hold-down devicemounting area. The medial and lateral regions at the intermediateportion are interrupted, so that a gap extends completely between themedial and lateral regions in the hold-down device mounting area. Ahold-down device cooperates with the base, and has first and secondportions that are configured to move relative to one another in responseto bending forces of a board to which the binding is mounted. Thehold-down device may be a single unit formed of a unitary construction,or consist of two or more components that cooperate together.Alternatively, the hold-down device may include independent, separatecomponents that are arranged to cooperate together when mounted to agliding board.

According to some aspects, a binding, a baseplate for a binding, and/ora hold-down device for a binding, may be configured to resist unwantedbinding distortion such as parallelogramming, (i.e., medial and/orlateral regions rotating on an upper surface of a board or movingoppositely/relative to one another in the heel-toe direction of thebinding) and/or bowing (i.e., portions of the medial and lateral regionsmoving away from one another). Although not limited to a binding that isconfigured to minimize resistance to bending forces of a gliding board,such a binding may particularly be susceptible to unwanted distortion. Abinding may include a bridge, such as at the front end of the binding,that connects medial and lateral regions of the binding to resistunwanted distortion. Additionally or alternatively, an interface may beprovided between a hold-down device and a binding base to resistparallelogramming and/or bowing. According to some aspects, a bindingmay include an integral base and hold down arrangement or, instead, mayinclude a base and a separate hold-down device for securing the base toa gliding board.

For purposes herein, “gliding board” refers generally to any board typestructure, as well as to other devices, which allow a rider to traversea surface. Some non-limiting examples of a gliding board include asnowboard, snow skis, water skis, wake board, kite board, surfboard andthe like. For ease of understanding, however, and without limiting thescope of the invention, aspects of the invention are discussed herein inconnection with a snowboard.

It also is to be appreciated that the term “hold-down device” refersgenerally to a component of a binding that may be used to secure thebinding to a gliding board. Although referred to as a hold-down disc, insome embodiments discussed herein, it is to be appreciated that thehold-down device may take other overall shapes and, consequently, thehold-down device is not limited to being disc-shaped, nor toconstituting a component that is separate from the binding base.

It also is to be appreciated that a binding for a snowboard may includea strap type binding (also known as a tray binding) having one or moreof a toe strap, an instep strap and a shin-strap, a step-in binding,hybrid strap/step-in bindings, and other arrangements for retaining arider's boot to a snowboard. Further, any of the foregoing snowboardbindings may include a highback and, additionally, a forward leanadjuster for limiting the forward lean of the highback. Aspects of theinvention are not limited to any particular style of binding, whether ornot expressly described herein. Further, a binding may be configured forcompatibility with a snowboard having a channel-type mountingarrangements, a 4×4 fastener insert pattern, a 3D (TRADEMARK) fastenerinsert pattern, as well as other binding interface systems as should beapparent to one of skill in the art.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view, somewhat exaggerated, of a rigid binding 20that is configured to facilitate flex of a snowboard despite thepresence of the rigid binding. The binding 20 and snowboard 22 areillustrated both in an un-flexed state (represented by solid lines) anda flexed state (represented by dashed lines). As represented, the board22 curves beneath and adjacent to the binding as medial and lateral baseregions 24, 26 of the binding 20 move, relative (e.g., pivot) to oneanother in response to board flex. This movement may be characterizedabout an axis that extends substantially in a heel-toe direction of thebinding base (i.e., that extends into and out of the page in FIG. 1).When a binding is mounted perpendicular to the axis of snowboard (i.e.,0 degree stance angle), the pivot axis of the hold down device and theaxis of the binding base coincide. Many riders mount one or bothbindings at an angle to the board axis, and may have front and rearbindings at different stance angles. When the pivot axis of the holddown device and the axis of the binding base are not coincident, therewill still be movement of the binding base about the binding axis inresponse to outward bending forces of the board, although such movementmay not be the same as when the binding axis coincides with the pivotaxis of the hold-down disc. Certain types of unwanted distortion of abinding are represented schematically in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, where thesolid lines represent medial and lateral regions 24, 26 of a binding inan undistorted state and the dashed lines represent various distortedstates. Parallelogramming, which may include medial and/or lateralregions rotating on an upper surface of a board or movingoppositely/relative to one another in the heel-toe direction of thebinding, is represented by the dashed lines shown in FIG. 2 a. Thedashed lines in FIG. 2 b represent a type of bowing, which includes toeend portions 28 of the medial and lateral regions moving away from oneanother. It is also to be appreciated that bowing may include centralportions and/or heel end portions of the medial and lateral regionsspreading away from one another.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a binding 20 that includes a baseplate characterizedby medial and lateral base regions 24, 26 and medial and lateralsidewalls 32, 34. The base regions are arranged to move relative to oneanother (e.g., flex or pivot) about a heel-toe axis 30, at least in partby having a gap or separation between the two regions at the hold-downdevice receiving area. As observed earlier, the hold-down disc receivingaperture in a conventional tray binding, in contrast, is completelysurrounded by base material that extends from one sidewall to the otherproviding an uninterrupted rigid base or floor between the sidewallsthat resists relative flexing of the medial and lateral base portions.The base is secured to a snowboard 22 by a hold-down device 44 havingopenings or slots 77 for receiving fasteners or other hardware forattaching to a binding interface in the snowboard, such as fastenerinserts or a t-nut captured in a channel 90. The hold-down device hasfirst and second portions 46, 48 that are connected by a hinge 50. Thehinge allows the first and second portions 46, 48 of the hold-downdevice 44 to move in response to bending forces of the board away fromthe binding (i.e., outwardly). The rear, or heel end, of the bindingbase may be open, as shown, or otherwise arranged to permit inwardflexing of the medial and lateral base regions in response to bending ofthe board. Other configurations of binding components that facilitatebending of a snowboard when a binding is mounted thereto arecontemplated, certain of such other arrangements being described hereinin greater detail.

Configuring the base to facilitate board flexing, as compared to traystyle bindings, such as by interrupting the base at the hold-down devicereceiving area, and at locations rearwardly and forwardly thereof, mayrender the binding susceptible to parallelogramming or bowing. Themedial and lateral base regions at the toe end, or front, of the bindingshown in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be connected to one another by a bridge 52that may be configured to resist unwanted binding distortion. The bridge52 resists movement of the toe ends 28 away from one another, thusresisting bowing type of distortion. A binding may include one or morebridges that connect medial and lateral base regions to one another toresist bowing at the toe end, heel end, central portions of the binding,and at other locations as well as combinations of any of the foregoing.

According to some embodiments, a bridge may be constructed to allowmedial and lateral base regions to flex towards one another, while stillresisting unwanted distortion. Certain embodiments of a bridge may beconstructed to flex more readily about an axis extending in the heel-toedirection of the binding than in other directions, such as about avertical axis of the binding (as taken when ridden) that is associatedwith parallelogramming. This is accomplished in the embodiment of FIG. 3by having the thickness T of the bridge 52 smaller than a width W of thebridge. Also, the bottom of the bridge may be located above the bottomof the base region as is illustrated. According to one embodiment, thebridge 52 may have a thickness of about 5 mm and a width of about 20 mm(a ratio of about 1:4), although other widths, thicknesses, and ratiosare also possible. It is to be appreciated that a bridge may beconstructed to be more flexible about a heel-toe axis than in otherdirections through other approaches, such as by being made of compositethat is oriented to allow flexing about a heel-toe axis to a greaterdegree than about axes in other directions. Additionally oralternatively, other features may be incorporated into a bridge to allowmovement like that shown in FIG. 1, including inclusion of a pinnedhinge, living hinge or other flexible connections that may allowmovement about the heel-toe axis yet resist bending in other directions.It is also to be appreciated that certain binding base embodiments maylack a bridge altogether.

A heel hoop, according to some embodiments, may also resist unwanteddistortion. This may be accomplished with a heel hoop that flexes morereadily about a heel-toe axis of the binding base than in otherdirections. A heel hoop may be constructed with a thickness T that isless than a width W to allow binding movement as shown in FIG. 1.Additionally or alternatively, a flexible arrangement, such as a pinnedhinge, living hinge, expansion joint, compression joint, and the like,may be incorporated into a heel hoop.

The binding 20 illustrated in FIGS. 3-6 b includes a hold-down device 44that secures the binding 20 to a board 22. As shown, the hold-downdevice 44 includes first and second portions 46, 48 (for appropriateapplications the first and second portions may be referred to herein asmedial and lateral portions). The first and second portions are flexiblyconnected to one another, such as at a central area 73 as shown, by ahinge that has a pivot axis 56. Other types of flexible connections,other than a hinge, also are contemplated, certain of which arrangementsare discussed herein. Each of the first and second portions 46, 48 has ahole, set of holes 75, one or more slots, or a combination thereof, forreceiving at least one threaded fastener 78 to secure the hold-downdevice 44 and, consequently, a binding base 20 nested thereto to a board22. Multiple holes, such as the three holes 75 shown in each of thefirst and second portion 46, 48, or slots, allow selective positioningof the hold down device and, consequently, the binding base relative tothe edge of the snowboard. An outer edge 64 of each first and secondportion 46, 48 includes a hook-shaped base engagement feature 60. Thelower face 65 of the hook-shaped feature 60, which is positioned above abottom surface 67 of the hold-down device 44, may include a plurality ofteeth 74 that mesh with corresponding teeth 75 on the binding base 20 tosecure the binding base and hold-down device together in one of aplurality of different angular orientations. A portion 61 of thehook-shaped feature faces toward the central area 73 of the device andmay contact a corresponding hold-down device engaging feature 62 of thebinding base (a protrusion in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-6 b), whenmounted thereto. An arcuate groove 70 is defined in a lower surface ofthe hold-down device by the hook-shaped feature. Portions of the outeredge 64 of each of the first and second portions extend further in adirection radially away from the central area 73, such that the outeredge defines a pair of shoulders that act as rotational stops 80 thatmay engage corresponding stops on the binding base 20.

As mentioned above, the hold-down device 44 may include first and secondportions 46, 48 that can move towards one another in response to outwardcurving forces of a board. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3-6 b, a hinge 50connects the first and second portions 46, 48. The hinge, as shown,includes a pivot axis 56. The hold-down device may have a tip-to-taildirection and an edge-to-edge direction, with the pivot axis 56 arrangedalong either direction (shown extending along edge-to-edge direction),or in any other direction suitable for the particular application. Thehold-down device 44 is not limited to the hinge 50 arrangement shown andother mechanisms allowing movement of the first and second portions arecontemplated including, without limitation, a living hinge that connectsthe first and second portions (for example, metal first and secondportions that are held together by an over-molded plastic), a tetherthat connects first and second portions, one or more ball and socketjoints, a telescoping joint that guides the first and second portion inmovement toward one another, and other types of joints. Additionally oralternatively, a hold-down device may include two or more portions thatare independent from one another, as not all embodiments include aflexible connection.

In certain embodiments, stance angle adjustment of the binding baserelative to the hold down disc and, ultimately relative to the axis ofthe snowboard may be provided. A plurality of teeth 74 on the hold-downdevice are engageable with corresponding teeth 75 of the base region ofa binding base, allowing the binding base to be rotated to a desiredstance angle and maintained at that position when the fastener hardwareis engaged to the inserts or other binding interface in the board. Asshown in FIG. 6 b, the plurality of teeth may be positioned on anunderside 65 of a hook-shaped feature 60 and may extend along an arc onthe hold down device (and corresponding base plate regions) to allowengagement at different rotational positions. In the embodiment of FIGS.3-6 b, the plurality of teeth 74 are inclined outwardly away from acentral area of the hold down device, although other orientations arealso possible, including vertical orientations, horizontal orientations,and teeth angled to different degrees or in different directions. Thesurface of the hold-down device may include angle indication marks toindicate an orientation of a snowboard binding base relative to the holddown disk. As illustrated, the hold-down device may include a bodyportion provided with two or more openings or slots for receivingfasteners for attaching the hold-down device to the gliding board. Theplurality of angular adjustment teeth may be provided on a lip extendingoutwardly away from the body portion. The lip may include a vertical,horizontal, inclined, or curved surface that supports the plurality ofteeth. Further, the first and second hold down portions together, incertain embodiments have an hourglass configuration. That is, a widerouter edge, which may curve as shown, and a narrower central region orwaist, such as at the pivot axis of the hold-down device.

A hold-down device and a binding base may be particularly arranged toresist certain types of binding distortion and/or movement, includingbowing and/or parallelogramming. As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 a, and 6 b, amedial hold-down portion 46 includes a base engagement feature 60, suchas a hook, that faces away from a medial outer edge of the hold-downdevice 44, or in other words, faces toward a central area 73 of thehold-down device 44. A complimentary hold-down device engagement feature62 of the base may, in turn, face toward the medial sidewall 32 of thebinding. Engagement between the face 61 of the hook-shaped feature 60and a hold-down device engaging feature 62 of the binding base 20 (whichmay also be a hook) may resist regions of the binding base from movingaway from the central area 73, when mounted thereto. In this respect,bowing as depicted in FIG. 2 a, may be resisted. The hook-shaped feature60 shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-6 b extends about a constantradius of curvature, and in this respect, provides resistance to bowingin all rotational orientations of the binding base relative to the holddown device. It is to be appreciated that complimentary base/hold-downdevice engaging features may be constructed in other ways, as theembodiment of FIGS. 3-6 b is not limiting. By way of example, in someembodiments a plurality of receptacles and protrusions (for example,pegs and holes) may be positioned on complimentary engaging surfaces ofthe hold-down device and base, and may be configured to interlock thebinding base and hold-down device to one another in different angularorientations. This distortion resisting feature may be provided in someor all stance angle positions of the binding base relative to the holddown device.

Collectively, interaction of the teeth 74, 75 and the engagementfeatures 60, 62 may effectively lock the binding base regions tocorresponding portions of the hold-down device. That is, the combinationof teeth 74 and binding engagement features 60 on a portion of thehold-down device 44 may be positioned to collectively resist motion of abinding base region in multiple directions or all directions. By way ofexample, engagement between teeth 74, 75 resists rotation between abinding base region and a portion of the hold-down device. Interactionwith the hook-shaped feature 60 (or other binding base engagementfeature) may resist the binding base region from moving away or towardthe corresponding portion of the hold-down device and/or from moving ina heel-toe direction of the binding. Engaging the binding base regionsto the hold-down device portions in this manner may resist unwanteddistortion as shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, when the hold-down portion issecurely mounted to a board.

According to some embodiments, portions of a hold-down device 46, 48 mayinterlock with base regions 24, 26 of a binding, such as with a snap fittype connection. By way of example, the grooves 70 of the hold-downdevice of FIGS. 3-6 b may receive and interlock with correspondingprotrusions 71 of the binding base regions to accurately and/or securelyposition the binding base with respect to the hold-down device. In someembodiments, the groove may be on the base regions of the binding whilecorresponding protrusions are on the hold-down device. The correspondingprotrusions may also be a part of a groove on either a binding base orhold-down device. According to some embodiments, the groove andcorresponding features may fit together with a slight clearance, with noclearance, or even with a slight interference fit to help accomplishthis. First and second portions 46, 48 of a hold-down device 44 may alsobe configured to resist rotation of engaged binding base regions aboutan upper surface of a board to help resist parallelogramming. By way ofexample, each of the first and second portions 46, 48 of the hold-downdevice of FIGS. 3 and 4 is mounted to the snowboard with a singlethreaded fastener 78. Absent contact with one another, each of the firstand second hold-down portions (and potentially corresponding portions ofthe binding) may be capable of rotating on the upper surface of thesnowboard if the clamping force associated with the threaded fastener isovercome. Surfaces of the hinge 76, however, abut one another to resistsuch rotation. In other embodiments, first and second hold-down portionsthat are independent from one another (e.g., not connected to oneanother) may include surfaces that abut one another to resist rotation.According to some embodiments, these surfaces may merely be positionedadjacent to one another, such that contact occurs between the surfacesto resist further rotation after some initial amount of rotation hasoccurred, such as up to 1 degree of rotation or greater, 2 degrees orrotation or greater, or 5 degrees of rotation or greater, among otherangles. In other embodiments, each hold-down portion may be secured to aboard with multiple fasteners to resist rotation about an upper boardsurface.

Embodiments of the binding base and/or hold-down device may include oneor more rotation stops 80 to limit a range of angular positions in whichthe binding base may be mounted to a snowboard. Limiting the range ofangular positions may help ensure a minimum amount of engagement betweenthe binding and hold-down device, consequently ensuring a securemounting of the binding to a snowboard. As shown in FIG. 4, the stop mayinclude a pair of shoulders on each of the first and second portions ofthe hold-down device. A first shoulder or protrusion of each pair mayengage a corresponding stop (such as a shoulder or protrusion) on thebinding to prevent rotation beyond a particular angle in the clockwisedirection. A second shoulder or protrusion of each pair may contact acorresponding stop on the binding to limit rotation in the counterclockwise direction. In other embodiments, a stop may be positioned ononly one of the first and second hold-down portions and correspondingregions of the binding, while other embodiments may lack stopsaltogether. It is also to be appreciated that the stop may be integralto a binding base and/or to a hold down device, and may be separate fromfastening hardware of a snowboard binding.

Embodiments of the binding may be compatible with a wide variety ofsnowboard binding mounting systems. The hold-down device shown in FIGS.3-6 b is configured to mount the binding to a snowboard arranged withthe ICS (TRADEMARK) channel-style binding interface sold by The BurtonCorporation. The binding 20 of FIGS. 3-6 b, or variants thereof, mayalso be mounted to snowboards with other types of fastening systems bysolely changing out the hold-down device 44. By way of example, thehold-down device 44 shown in FIG. 7 may be used to mount the binding 20to a snowboard 22 with a 4×4 arrangement of threaded inserts, while thehold-down device of FIG. 8 may be used with a snowboard having a 3D(TRADEMARK) threaded insert pattern. Hold-down devices may be configuredto mount bindings to snowboards with other fastening arrangements, ormay be compatible with two or more types of fastening arrangements, asaspects of the invention are not limited in this respect.

Hold-down devices 44 may be constructed with first and second portions46, 48 that are independent from one another, as shown in the embodimentof FIGS. 9 a and 9 b. In such embodiments, the first and second portionsmay be free to move relative to one another by virtue of lacking adirect physical connection. According to other embodiments, hold-downdevices may include more than two independent portions, as aspects ofthe invention are not limited to having only a first hold-down portionand a second hold-down portion.

Each hold-down portion shown in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b includes a clampingplate 82 and a positioning plate 84 that is separate from the clampingplate. The positioning plate, as illustrated, includes a plurality ofteeth 74 that engage and orient the binding 20 rotationally relative tothe hold-down device 44. To mount a binding to a snowboard, the clampingplate 82 is positioned over the positioning plate 84 and portions of thebinding. Threaded fasteners pass through holes 77 in the clamping plateand positioning plate and are tightened to secure the clamping plate andpositioning plate to the binding and the upper surface of the snowboard.The clamping plate also includes engagement features that face away froman outer edge of the hold-down device to resist binding distortion.

FIGS. 10 a and 10 b show an alternate embodiment of a hold-down devicethat is configured to mount a binding 20 to a snowboard 22 having achannel-type binding mount system, such as is shown in FIG. 3. Theillustrated embodiment includes first and second portions 24, 26 thateach has a clamping plate 82 and a positioning plate 84, like theembodiment of FIGS. 9 a and 9 b. Each of the first and second portionsis connected to the other by a key 86. The key 86 allows the portions46, 48 to flex relative to one another about a heel-toe axisperpendicular to the key.

The key 86 shown in FIGS. 10 a and 10 b may help position first andsecond portions 46, 48 of the hold-down device 44. By way of example,the key 86 may hold each of the first and second portions apart from oneanother at a fixed distance, preventing the positioning plates 84 frommoving toward one another and thus away from corresponding portions of abinding. This is accomplished in the embodiment of FIGS. 10 a and 10 bby the bend 88 in the key that is threaded through each portion 46, 48,as shown in FIG. 10 b. The key of FIGS. 10 a and 10 b may, additionallyor alternatively, extend downward so as to fit into the channel 90 of asnowboard 22 and interact with edges of the channel. Interaction betweenthe key 86 and edges of the channel 90 may resist the key from rotatingabout an axis that extends upward from a top surface of the snowboard.The key may, in turn, limit each of the first and second portions of thehold-down device from rotating about the upper surface throughinteraction between the portions of the bends and the key. Thisinteraction should resist parallelogramming. In other embodiments, a twopart key (one part associated with each of the first and secondportions) may alternatively be used.

Embodiments of the hold-down devices may be constructed of differentmaterials, including but not limited to steel, aluminum, plastics,composite materials, and others. The embodiments of FIGS. 3-5, 6, 7, and8 may be particularly suitable for plastic constructions, includingfiber reinforced plastic constructions. The embodiments of FIGS. 9 a-9 band 10 a-10 b may be suitably constructed with plastic positioningplates and metal clamping plates and a metal key. It is to beappreciated, however, that other materials may be used and are alsocontemplated.

A footbed 92 may be positioned over the medial and lateral base portions36, 38 to provide a surface to receive a rider's boot. One embodiment ofa footbed is shown in FIGS. 11 a and 11 b. As shown, the footbed 92includes a ramped toe support 94 and a heel support 96 that each mate tothe binding 20. The footbed 92 also includes a central portion 98 thatoverlies the hold-down device 44 and the medial and lateral baseportions 36, 38 of the binding.

The central portion 98 of the footbed may be lifted away from thebinding to provide access to the base portions of the binding to receivea hold-down device 44 when the binding is mounted or removed from asnowboard or when the binding position is adjusted. As shown in FIG. 11a, the central portion 98 is connected to the ramped toe support 94 by aliving hinge 100, although other types of connections are also possible.This hinge allows the central portion to be pivoted upwards, whileremaining connected to the binding.

A footbed may be connected to bindings in different ways. In theembodiment of FIGS. 11 a and 11 b, the ramped toe support 94 of thefootbed 92 is fastened to the bridge 52 that connects toe ends of thebinding medial and lateral regions. The heel support 96 includes clipsthat are received in grooves at the heel end of the binding. It is to beappreciated that other connections are contemplated.

EXAMPLES

Tests were performed to characterize the affect on board flex of abinding constructed according to embodiments of the invention. The testswere performed on an EST (TRADEMARK) baseless binding for use with achannel mounting system generally like that represented in US PatentApplication Publication US 2008/0030000 A1, a binding constructedgenerally as represented in FIG. 3 including a hinged hold-down device,and a TRIAD (TRADEMARK) conventional tray style binding including aconventional hold-down disc. Each of the bindings was constructed from acommon material (a plastic formed through a selective laser sintering(SLS) prototyping process) and were of a medium size constructed for arider's right foot. A 2009 Hero (TRADEMARK) snowboard with a channelmounting system was used for each test. A fourth test was performed onthe snowboard without a binding for purposes of comparison.

Table 1 shows the results of a three-point bend test. A board/bindingassembly was supported on two points lying outside of the medial andlateral sides of the binding and separated from one another by a span of480 mm. A tensile/compression testing machine was used to deflect athird point of the board/binding assembly, positioned in the footreceiving area of the binding, downward by a distance of 40 mm. Theamount of force required to achieve 40 mm deflection was recorded foreach board/binding assembly, and is shown in TABLE 1 below. Thethree-point bending test was also performed on a board without abinding. As can be seen from the test results, less force is required tobend a board bearing a binding with a hinged hold-down device (Test 2)as compared to a conventional tray binding (Test 3).

TABLE 1 Test Load, # Board/Binding N 1 2009 Hero 158 with Chanel/2010Cartel EST (baseless 3576 binding without hold-down device in footreceiving area) 2 2009 Hero 158 with Chanel/binding as shown in FIG. 33706 including a hinged hold-down device 3 2009 Hero 158 withChanel/2010 Triad (tray style binding 3831 with a conventional hold-downdisc) 4 2009 Hero 158 with Chanel/no binding 3196

Table 2, below, shows the change in load and percent change in stiffnessassociated with each of the binding/board combinations (tests 1-3 ofTable 1) after having subtracted the stiffness of the board alone (test4 of Table 1). Table 2 also shows the percent increase in stiffnessassociated with each binding, relative to the hoard alone. (The bindingwith the hinged hold down disc (Test 2) was less stiff than theconventional binding (Test 3).

TABLE 2 Test ΔLoad_(binding), % inc # Binding N in stiffness 1 CartelEST (baseless binding without a 380 12 hold-down device in footreceiving area) 2 Binding as shown in FIG. 3 including a 510 16 hingedhold-down device 3 Triad (tray style binding with 635 20 conventionalhold-down disc)

A second test was performed to determine the stiffness of each of thebindings described above with respect to Table 1, exclusive of boardflex characteristics. Each binding was mounted to a snowboard split intotwo pieces in the edge-to-edge direction is beneath the binding mountsurface. The split board/binding assemblies were supported on tworollers lying outside of the medial and lateral sides of the binding andseparated from one another by a span of 135 mm. A tensile/compressiontesting machine was used to deflect a third point of the splitboard/binding assembly, centered in the foot-receiving area of thebinding, with a 300 N force, where deflection and stiffness of the splitboard/binding were recorded. Table 3 below shows the results of thistesting. Here, again, the binding with a hinged-hold down device wasless stiff than the conventional tray binding.

TABLE 3 Deflection, Stiffness, Test # Binding mm N/mm 1 Cartel EST(baseless binding 16.0 21.3 without a hold-down device in foot receivingarea) 2 Binding as shown in FIG. 3 10.6 49.0 including a hingedhold-down device 3 Triad (tray style binding with 2.7 172.5 conventionalhold-down disc)

It should be understood that aspects of the invention are describedherein with reference to the figures, which show illustrativeembodiments in accordance with aspects of the invention. Theillustrative embodiments described herein are not necessarily intendedto show all aspects of the invention, but rather are used to describe afew illustrative embodiments. For example, although aspects of theinvention are described above with reference to a snowboard binding usedin conjunction with a snowboard, aspects of the invention may be usedwith any suitable gliding board and corresponding binding, includingwakeboards, skis, and the like. Thus, aspects of the invention are notintended to be construed narrowly in view of the illustrativeembodiments. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of theinvention may be used alone or in any suitable combination with otheraspects of the invention.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of thisinvention, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications,and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Suchalterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part ofthis disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings areby way of example only.

1. A hold-down device for mounting a binding base to a gliding board,comprising: a first rigid hold-down portion that is arranged to mount toa complimentary hold-down portion receiving area of a binding base; asecond rigid hold-down portion that is arranged to mount to acomplimentary hold-down portion receiving area of a binding base; and aflexible connection between said first rigid hold-down portion and saidsecond rigid hold-down portion, such that said first rigid hold-downportion and said second rigid hold-down portion are moveable relative toone another in response to bending forces of a gliding board when eachof said first and second rigid hold-down portions mount a binding baseto a gliding board.
 2. The hold-down device of claim 1, wherein saidflexible connection divides said hold-down device into a first rigidmedial portion and a second rigid lateral portion.
 3. The hold-downdevice of claim 1, wherein said flexible connection includes a pivotaxis about which said first rigid hold-down portion and said secondrigid hold-down portion are moveable relative to one another.
 4. Thehold-down device of claim 1, wherein said flexible connection includes ahinge.
 5. The hold-down device of claim 1, wherein each of said firstrigid hold-down portion and said second rigid hold-down portion includea curved outer edge.
 6. The hold-down device of claim 1, wherein saidfirst rigid hold-down portion and said second rigid hold-down portionform an hourglass shape.
 7. The hold-down device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a plurality of teeth on each of said first rigid hold-downportion and said second rigid hold-down portion that are engageable withcorresponding teeth of a binding base so that a binding base may bearranged relative to said hold down disc in one of a plurality ofdifferent angular positions.
 8. The hold-down device of claim 1, whereinsaid flexible connection is positioned at a central portion of saidhold-down device, said first rigid hold-down portion has a binding baseengagement feature for resisting unwanted binding distortion that facestoward said central portion, and said second rigid lateral hold-downportion has a binding base engagement feature for resisting unwantedbinding distortion that faces toward said central portion.
 9. Thehold-down device of claim 8, wherein said first rigid hold-down portionincludes a groove and said second rigid hold-down portion includes agroove, said first and second binding base engagement features definingin part said respective grooves.
 10. The hold-down device of claim 9,wherein said respective grooves are on a common radius.
 11. Thehold-down device of claim 8, wherein said first and second binding baseengagement features are hook-shaped.
 12. The hold-down device of claim9, wherein each of said grooves is defined by a body portion and a lipportion, wherein said body portion extends lower than said lip portion.13. The hold-down device of claim 1, further comprising: at least onerotational stop that is cooperable with a rotational stop of a bindingbase to limit angular orientation of a binding base relative to saidhold-down device.
 14. The hold-down device of claim 1, further includingangle indication marks on at least one of said rigid hold-down portionsthat indicate an orientation of a binding base relative to saidhold-down device.
 15. The hold-down device of claim 1 further includingat least two openings or slots adapted to received fasteners forsecuring said hold-down device to a gliding board.
 16. The hold-downdevice of claim 1, including a body portion and a lip, wherein at leasttwo openings or slots adapted to received fasteners for securing saidhold-down device to a gliding board are located in said body portion,and a plurality of teeth that are engageable with corresponding teeth ofa binding base so that a binding base may be arranged relative to saidhold-down device in one of a plurality of different angular positionsare located at said lip.
 17. The hold-down device of claim 1, incombination with a binding base.
 18. The hold-down device of claim 17,wherein said binding base is a snowboard binding base.
 19. The hold-downdevice of claim 1, in combination with a gliding board.
 20. Thehold-down device of claim 19, wherein said gliding board is a snowboard.21. A hold-down device for mounting a binding base to a gliding board,comprising: a first rigid hold-down portion that is arranged to mount toa complimentary hold-down portion receiving area of a binding base, saidfirst rigid hold-down portion including a central portion and a firstbinding base engagement feature for resisting binding distortion thatfaces towards said central portion; and a second rigid hold-down portionthat is arranged to mount to a complimentary hold-down receiving area ofa binding base, said second rigid hold-down portion including a centralportion and a second binding base engagement feature for resistingbinding distortion that faces towards said central portion. 22-37.(canceled)
 38. A hold-down device for mounting a binding base to agliding board, comprising: a first rigid hold-down portion that isarranged to mount to a complimentary hold-down portion receiving area ofa binding base at a plurality of different angular positions relative tothe binding base; a second rigid hold-down portion that is arranged tomount to a complimentary hold-down receiving area of a binding base at aplurality of different angular positions relative to the binding base;and at least one rotational stop that is cooperable with a rotationalstop of a binding base to limit an angular position of the binding baserelative to said hold-down device. 39-50. (canceled)
 51. A hold-downdevice for mounting a binding base to a gliding board, comprising: afirst rigid hold-down portion that is arranged to mount to an innermedial region of a binding base and that includes at least one openingor slot arranged to receive a fastener to mount said first rigidhold-down portion to a gliding board; a second rigid hold-down portionthat is arranged to mount to an inner lateral region of a binding baseand that includes at least one opening or slot arranged to receive afastener to mount said second rigid hold-down portion to a glidingboard; a plurality of teeth extending along an arc on each of said firstrigid hold-down portion and said second rigid hold-down portion that areengageable to corresponding teeth of an inner medial region and an innerlateral region, respectively, of a binding base in one of a plurality ofdifferent angular positions; and a hinge connecting said first rigidhold-down portion and said second rigid hold-down portion such that,when said hold-down device has mounted a binding base to a glidingboard, said first rigid hold-down portion and said second rigidhold-down portion are moveable relative to one another in response tobending forces of the gliding board. 52-62. (canceled)